Improvement in processes and apparatus for amalgamating ores



T. A. D. FORSTER 8v .G. J. PIRMIN. Process and Apparatus 'for Amalgamating Ores.

N. PETERS PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

THOMAS A. D. FORSTER AND GEORGE J. FIRMIN, OF NORRISTOVVN, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR AMALGAMATING ORES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,212, dated October 16, 1877 application filed J unc 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS A. D. FORs- TER, and GEORGE J. FIRMIN, of Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Amalgamating Metals, and machines for washing ores; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modification. Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section of washingmachine. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of well. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section, showing deflecting-plates in cylinder.

The object of our invention is to provide an improved process of amalgamating metals, and novel machinery for conducting said process.

Afurther object of our invention is to provide an apparatus of peculiar construction and operation for washing the ore after amalgamation has been effected.

Our invention accordingly consists of a new process for amalgamating metals, and of peculiarlyconstrueted and combined apparatus for effecting said process, and for washing the ore after amalgamation has been produced.

In cariyin g our invention into effect we take ore which has been finely pulverized and feedit through a hopper, preferably provided with a screw,- into a horizontally-arranged cylindrical vessel, into which a jet of steam or air enters from the end, said jet forming with the falling ore a current resembling a sand-blast. A vessel of mercury, located above the steam or air pipe, is connected with the latter by a branch pipe, in such manner that the mercurial contents of said vessel will be drawn in by the steam or air current, and forcibly projected into and through the descending ore in 'the cylinder. This projection of the mercury has the efiect of thoroughly atomizing it, mingling it with the fine ore, and causing amalgamation to be effected before the combined mass or blast reaches the other end of the cylinder. The ore and amalgamated metals pass from said cylinder into a washer consisting of a tank with a hollow vertical shaft, on the lower extremity of which are secured conical rollers arranged to move over the'inclined bottom of said tank. The hollow shaft conducts water to a point below the bottom of the tank, consisting of an enlarged pipe provided with a stop cook or valve, whence it surgesup beneath and between the rollers, filling the tank to any desired extent, two or more bib-cocks being provided at various altitudes, by which the depth of water is graduated.

The vertical shaft is provided with wings or .of the tank.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates a cylindrical vessel-say, six feet long and two inches in diameter. D is a hopper, connected with the cylinder A by means of aneck, I), within which is located a feedscrew, 0, rotated by means of a belt and pulley, c, on its shaft 0. D is apipe for conveying steam or air to the cylinderA, advanced into the latter until it comes to, or about to, a point directly beneath the center of the hopper-reek I), and connected at its other extremity with a steam-generator, fan-blower, or other device for producing a current of steam or air. E is another pipe, located partially within the pipe D, its nozzle or delivery end c projecting into the cylinder A slightly beyond the nozzle or delivery end (I of the pipe D. Said pipe E passes through the pipe D, as shown at c, and communicates with a mercury-cup, F, as shown. The relative sizes or diameters of the pipes D and E for a cylinder six feet long and two inches diameter should be, say, one-half and oneeighth of an inch. The diameter of the throat I) with said cylinder should be about.

two inches.

The operation is as follows: Ore being placed in the hopper l3, and the feed-screw set in motion, the cock f is opened, permitting mercury to flow through the pipe E. At the same time, steam, air, or any other equivalent medirnn sufficient to produce a strong current, is admitted, under pressure, through the pipe D, carrying forward the mercury, which it atomizes, to the stream of finely-pulverized ore falling from the hopper. The falling ore is also taken up by the steam or air current and projected, in. the form of a sand-blast, to the other end of the cylinder A. During the passage of the ore and mercury through the cylinder A, an intimate connection of the particles or atoms takes place, so that by the time said journey has been performed a perfect amalgamation of the metals is effected.

The amalgamated metals and ore then fall through the passage way or duct G into the washer, the construction of which we shall now proceed to describe, remarking, however, that, by the modification shown in Fig. 2, the pipe leading from the mercury-cup may pass into the neck I), so thatthe mercury and ore may be fed into the cylinder A together, instead of having the former enter through the pipe D, as shown in Fig. 1.

H represents a tank formed with a conicalbottom, H, the apex of which terminates in a well, formed of a short pipe, I, having avalve or openin g by which, when necessary, said well may be relieved of its contents.

K is ahollow vertical shaft stepped in or i above said well, in such manner that water admitted by it will freely pass into the latter. L L are conical rollers arranged to be moved over the bottom Hby said shaft K, and M M are wings or beaters fitted on said shaft for agitating the contents of the tank H. m m are bib-cocks at various altitudes on the tank H.

The mass dropping through the duct G falls into the water in the tank H, which is kept as high as one of the bib-cocks m m, said water entering through the shaft K at the point 7?, and surging up beneath and between the rollers L L over the conical bottom H.

The quartz, deprived of its metals, and the earthy matter therewith, are carried off through the bib-cocks m m, (either or both,) one of which is always kept open, while the amalgamated metals sink into the well I, whence they are drawn off from time to time, and the mercury then recovered.

When the mercury-pipe enters, as shown in Fig. 1, it must project beyond the pipe D, as in said figure shown, otherwise its contents would not flow out; and it is necessary that the said pipe D should come about as far as the center of the hopper B, or at least within the circumference of the neck I), in order to avoid a steam or air pressure in said neck, which would prevent the ore from entering the cylinder A. The too speedy progress of the blast through the cylinder may be prevented by reflecting-plates a a.

What we claim as our invention is 1. The process of amalgamating metals by projecting mercury into or against a stream of pulverized ore by means of a current of steam or air under pressure, substantially as described.

2. The method of amalgamatin g metals by a continuous process or operation, consisting in feeding the ore, in a pulverized condition, into a vessel or receiver, where, in the act of falling, it is impinged upon by a current of steam or air, which carries said ore, in the form of a blast, through said cylinder, mercury being at the same time carried along, and producing amalgamation without cessation of the feed, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of cylinder A, hopper or feeding device 13, steam or air pipe D, and mercury-pipe E, the said parts being relatively so arranged that, when the ore, mercury, and steam or air are admitted to the several parts, a blast will be created, and the material carried to or toward the delivery-duct G, as set forth.

4. In combination with the steam or air pipe I), pipe A, and hopper B, the mercurypipe E, said lastmentioned pipe projectin be yond the delivery end of the other, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the cylinder A, hopper B, vessel H, and steam and mercury pipes D E, the duct G, ailording an unimpeded pas sage for the blast after amalgamation, and serving to render the process continuous, as set forth.

6. The washer herein described, consisting of a vessel, H, having conical bottom H, hollow shaft K, rollers L L, wings M M, well I, and bib-cocks m m, the several parts being constructed and combined for operation substantie lly as shown and described.

7. The continuous process'ofamalgamation, consisting in admitting the pulverized ore and mercury into a vessel, wherein they are impinged upon by a current of steam or air, which promotes rapid and thorough amalgamation, and forces the ore and mercury together into a receiver, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 3lst day of May, 1876.

THOMAS A.- D. FORSTER.

GEO. J. FIRMIN.

Witnesses: M. DANL. OoNNoLLY, CHAS. F. VAN HORN. 

